Wii Mini is real, coming December according to Best Buy

The rumoured Wii Mini is real and will be released this December according to a new ad from Canadian retailer Best Buy.

According to the site, the redesigned Wii will arrive on December 7 in the states, which begs the question why?

With Nintendo releasing the Wii U this month, it seems to me like they'll only be confusing the casual consumer by releasing yet another new console. Maybe I am misjudging people, but if mums and dads go into the store and ask for the new Wii, is there a risk that they'll pick up the wrong console if they are not educated on which one is which? Could it be possible that the Wii Mini will eat into Wii U sales?

Who knows, either way the Wii Mini is real and it seems it'll be arriving much sooner than any of us would have expected.

Edited On 27 Nov, 2012

Joe is the Editor in Chief at Shopto news, he loves gaming and regularly writes news when sitting on the train to events even though he has a 3DS in his pocket.

“Nice colour scheme anyway. I don't think there's much chance of people getting confused between this and the Wii U, and even if they do at the shop the salesperson will be looking for the biggest sale possible, so is unlikely to offer them this.”

Gloria
2 years ago

“
Indeed, any sales assistant will surly point them in the right direction of the higher newer console, the Wii U! Not this revamped Wii, Wii Mini - Definitely seems like a cool option in redesign, sleek and stylishly small is what we like XD
”

SafaV4
2 years ago

“
Not always. Places like Asda and Tesco etc just aren't clued up to this sort of thing. I asked about Wii U pre-orders at Asda a few weeks back where they kindly asked me if it was a 'Call of Duty' thing.
”

Robichoico
2 years ago

“Really Nintendo?. Really?”

Loli-Nox-Tan
2 years ago

“Weird one this and as you say Mums/Dads,grandparents etc that aint too clued up on gaming might pick this up instead of the Wii U for Xmas/gift and the child will be like wtf is this?:)”

GAZZAAAAAAAAA
2 years ago

“Good point Joe about confusing people. Just have to hope that shop employees can respond to the question of, 'Can we have the new Wii?' with, the 'the Wii U, or a slimmed down version of the original Wii' and elaborate on that.”

rjc
2 years ago

“I just don't get the reason for this is at all.”

yoda soldier
2 years ago

“I can't see any confusion and lest we forget: Sony did the exact same thing with the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2. Nobody got those confused... well, apart from the odd idiot.”

The Auracle
2 years ago

“
Sony do this yes but never a few weeks after a new console launch. Once Playstation 4 is out that will be the end of their console revisions for Playstation 3. I mean if this Wii Mini launch is consistent across the globe then it will hit the UK and Europe 7 days after the Wii U launch and I do think that will confuse matters.
”

Tw33ks
2 years ago

“I don't understand this move from Nintendo at all - surely this will confuse parents as you said. Also, will this be an updated model, possibly including HDMI connection? or is it a way for nintendo to make some more money from those at xmas who are pinching the pennies? hmm”

Greigyboii
2 years ago

“On the picture it looks like supersized Nokia Lumia (rofl). As I commented on the other article, this is a bad move from Nintendo. They should focus promoting Wii U, and not creating products as Wii mini. Don't look back Nintendo, look forward.”

ZdravkoN
2 years ago

“i dont think this is going to take off not right next to the wii u launch,if it was me buying a new console i would rather add the extra and but the wii u.so im not sure this new smaller wii will work out”

rick75fowler
2 years ago

“i dont think this is going to take off not right next to the wii u launch,if it was me buying a new console i would rather add the extra and but the wii u.so im not sure this new smaller wii will work out”

rick75fowler
2 years ago

“Oh dear... Nintendo has already been doing a fine job of confusing the uniformed casual crowd they rely on to keep their home console business afloat with regard to the mess they've made of the Wii U launch, but launching a new Wii at the same time is only going to further muddy the waters. Seems like Nintendo are determined to return themselves to their position circa the late 90s with some of their decisions of late.”

PrometheusFan
2 years ago

“
Is there confusion? All of the adverts clearly show it's a new console. And the casual stores like Game are doing a great job of showing its a new console. You must be pretty darn stupid to not realise it's a new console. (although considering the complaints the new Layton game is getting due to it being on the 3DS and people still buying it. Makes sense.)
”

Robichoico
2 years ago

“Looks nice , but a resized version of a now old console?”

commissio
2 years ago

“Dose look good but its already a very small system.”

dazzadavie
2 years ago

“I think they could have done with this coming out about a year ago. Maybe it will have sold better then because i can't see it selling alot with the WiiU just around the corner. Can't complain about how it looks though.”

LFC Bywater
2 years ago

“At the right price, this would make an excellent present for the younger additions to the family, without spending a fortune.”

Solidus 5nake
2 years ago

“Hmm, they should of done this last year when the Wii sales started to drop hard? Strange.”

Carl-G
2 years ago

“
They did lol. They released that Wii without gamecube support.
”

Robichoico
2 years ago

“This looks sweet. ”

Thomas
2 years ago

“OK. Where to start...
1. Canada, now thats a weird choice isnt it..? Maybe market penetration of the original console never lived up to expectations in that territory. Maybe its a test bed.
2. The look. Well it does look nice, simple. It also sets it apart nice.
3. The effect on WiiU sales. Extreme. The market confusion this would cause in any territory could be drastic. People who post on sites such as this are educated gamers, IE not the majority of Wii gamers. These are generally very casual and often purchasing on request of someone else. Sure if all they want is a Wii no problem. But if little Jimmy asked for the new Wii for Xmas he may be quite disappointed come present day.
Oh well, yet another odd marketing and production choice from Nintendo. With reported sales of the WiiU already underwhelming coupled with the console being sold at a loss, this screams of desperation. ”

“
Not according to many sources. In the US many Best Buys and Targets who only received small allocations in the first place (8-10 units) still had stock well into the week following release. These units were then bolstered with further re-stocks. On top of that just about no one has had trouble getting hold of one in the US. Anecdotally many retailers are saying demand has been tepid compared to that of the Wii and dont expect numbers anywhere near as dynamic. Its price point coupled with its lukewarm release line up and lack of a decent gimmick or USP seem to be failing to capture either the imagination of the casual or hardcore markets.
”